Rollover protection structures (ROPS)

Evidence Rating

Some Evidence

Health Factors

Decision Makers

Rollover protection structures (ROPS) are metal bars (i.e., rollbars), frames, or crush proof cabs on tractors and other farm equipment designed to provide a safety zone for an operator in the event of a rollover or overturn (ROPSR4U). Since 1985, a national, voluntary standard has made ROPS standard equipment on all new tractors. Retrofits are available for many older tractors, but can be prohibitively expensive. Frames for ROPS retrofit must pass static or dynamic crush tests to ensure ability to withstand loads and impact (IA Extension-ROPS).

A survey of ROPS adoption in the US indicates that younger farmers and farms with $100,000 or more of farm product sales are most likely to use ROPS-equipped tractors (Loringer KA, Myers JR. Tracking the prevalence of rollover protective structures on U.S. farm tractors: 1993, 2001, and 2004. Journal of Safety Research. 2008;39(5):509-517.Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Loringer 2008). Some researchers suggest incentives to encourage farmers to install ROPS (Murphy DJ, Myers J, McKenzie EA, et al. Tractors and rollover protection in the United States. Journal of Agromedicine. 2010;15(3):249-63.Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Murphy 2010). A New York state social marketing campaign incorporating ROPS rebates, messages, and other promotional activities increased ROPS sales (Sorensen JA, May J, Ostby-Malling R, et al. Encouraging the installation of rollover protective structures in New York State: The design of a social marketing intervention. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2008;36(8):859-69.Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Sorensen 2008) and positively influenced readiness and intention to retrofit tractors (Sorensen JA, Jenkins PL, Emmelin M, et al. The social marketing of safety behaviors: A quasi-randomized controlled trial of tractor retrofitting incentives. American Journal of Public Health. 2011;101(4):678-84.Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Sorensen 2011). An Australia-based study suggests mandatory tractor retrofit legislation combined with a rebate program can increase the number of ROPS equipped tractors but may not directly impact fatalities (Jones CB, Day L, Staines C. Trends in tractor related fatalities among adults working on farms in Victoria, Australia, 1985–2010. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2013;50:110-114.Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Jones 2013a).

Rollbar retrofit prices vary based on tractor model, from approximately $150 to $5,900. A ROPS kit with a rebate from the National ROPS Rebate Program costs an average of $391 (ROPSR4U).

Impact on Disparities

Likely to decrease disparities

Implementation Examples

As of February 2018, the National ROPS Rebate Program, funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), provides individual applicants with an up to 70% rebate for the cost of a ROPS retrofit kit (including rollbar and seatbelt), shipping, and professional installation in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Minnesota (ROPSR4U). The NIOSH Division of Safety Research and Protective Technology Branch developed a Cost-Effective Rollover Protective Structure (CROPS) for four old tractor models that lack commercially available ROPS (CDC-CROPS).

Sorensen 2008* - Sorensen JA, May J, Ostby-Malling R, et al. Encouraging the installation of rollover protective structures in New York State: The design of a social marketing intervention. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2008;36(8):859-69.

Date Last Updated

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Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results.